Amongst a mixed flock of c100 HOUSE AND SPANISH SPARROW found 2 ROCKSPARROW (large bill with pinkish lower mandible and pale supercillium.

Species list totalled 27

Friday 18th March

Car delivered to the Hotel by 9.00 a.m., first visit was to Mavrokolympas Dam –
unfortunately the road has been closed about a mile from the Dam due to rock falls. Still managed to find LESSER KESTREL, CETTIS WARBLER and CYPRUS WARBLER.

Next stop was the village of Agia Varvara – along the dried up rive r bed are
some irrigation pools which attract a number of birds. Lots of HIRUNDINES moving through including 6 RED RUMPED SWALLOW. In the fields
a flock of 30+ SERIN, 8 CORN BUNTING, 5 FAN TAILED WARBLER, RED THROATED PIPIT, 2 CRETZ BUNTING , 2 SONG THRUSH and aJAY. Flushed from one of the pools
2 JACK SNIPE.

Next stop Mandria and the famous Lark Corner, not as many birds as we had expected –
7 NORTHERN WHEATER, 2 ISABELLINE WHEATEAR, many CRESTED LARKS, 2SKYLARK, COMMON BUZZARD. A flock of 10 YELLOW
WAGTAIL flew through. A LAPWING landed in a ploughed field – whilst looking at it a STONE CURLEW came into view.

Species list total 55

Saturday 19th March

Spent the morning in the archeological site on the Paphos Headland where there were a
number of birders from the Cyprus Birdwatch Society – we managed to miss the roosting SHORT-EARED OWL and the RUPPELS WARBLER! But we did find –
GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO in a bush, later seen in flight. 2 ORPHEAN WARBLER several SARDINIAN WARBLER, 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT, WILLOW WARBLER, 2
m CRETZ BUNTING, 2 HOOPOE, 4 LITTLE EGRET and 2 GREY HERON flew over. Both ISABELLINE and NORTHERN WHEATEAR, 2 BLACK REDSTART.

A large flock of 100+ SPANNISH SPARROW..

Drove up to the port of Latchi for a relaxing lunch – KINGFISHER
amongst the Yachts. At Aphrodites Pool, 2 BLACKBIRD, 2 SONG THRUSH, BLACKCAP and a ROCK DOVE.

On the return journey stopped at Theletra, a large mixed flock over 250 FI
NCHES included at least 150 SERIN, many in full summer plumage.

Species list total 65

Sunday 20th March

Covered over 200 miles with a visit to of the main sites at the eastern end of the island and near
Limassol.

Long drive started well with Graham finding a BLACK FRANCOLIN on a rock in a
field.

First stop Zakaki Marsh – only a small area of the main pool can be seen due to
the

extensive reed beds – on view a FLAMINGO, LITTLE EGRET, COOT, MOORHEN, LITTLEGREBE, REED AND SEDGE WARBLER (we arrived about 30 minutes after a female LITTLE CRAKE, WATER RAIL and a fly through PALLID HARRIER had been
seen)

Another hours drive found us arriving at the Larnaca Airport Pools viewed from an
elevated hide – here were 100s of DUCK, GREBES and WADERS – SHOVELER, PINTAIL, TEAL, MALLARD, 3 RED CRESTED POCHARD, 3 BLACK NECKED GREBE, 50+ LITTLEGREBE, several hundred COOT, 8 SPUR WINGED PLOVER, 1 GREEN SANDPIPER, REDSHANK, 2 RUFF, a female MARSH HARRIER over and 2
Ad ARMENIAN GULL. In a nearly bush a WHITETHROAT. Just to make us feel at home a RUDDY SHELDUCK.

On a nearby pool our first LITTLE RINGED PLOVER. Driving away from the
area noticed 2 BLACKHEADED GULL on a pool by the roadside, further scanning of the pool produced one of the highlights of the week, 80+ BLACK HEADED GULL, 40+ SLENDER
BILLEDGULL, 2Ad MEDETERRANEAN GULL.

At the side of the pool 2 FLAMINGO, 40+ BLACK WINGED STILT, 1 RUFF, a GREENSHANK and a KENTISH
PLOVER.

Whilst eating lunch at a nearby restaurant 3 SANDWICH TERN flew past.

Another 30 minutes drive to one of the sites which had been developed with European funds –
Oroklini Marsh viewed from 2 hides – contained several hundred SHOVELER, 2 GARGANEY, 3 RED CRESTED POCHARD, PINTAIL, TEAL, 3 CATTLE EGRET, 1 GREYHERON, 2
BLACKTAILED GODWIT, REDSHANK, 5 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER and a COMMON SANDPIPER.

Species list up to 101.

Monday 21st March

Last day with the car. Whilst the ladies sunbathed Graham and I paid a return visit to
Paphos Headland although no new additions being able to have good views of migrant birds still provided a great morning - 5 CRESTED LARK, 10 SARDINIAN WARBLER,
2WHITETHROAT, 1 HOOPOE, 3 WHEATEAR, 1 ISABELLINE WHEATEAR, 3 BLACKREDSTART, 1 CYPRUS WHEATEAR, 1 STONECHAT, 6 WHITE WAGTAIL, 2 RED RUMPED SWALLOW flew
through with lots of SWALLOW and HOUSE MARTIN.

After lunch another visit to Lark Corner at Mandria – very quiet apart from 2
CHUKER, 2BLACK FRANCOLIN and a female MARSH HARRIER.

A decision had to be made of which site to finish the afternoon at correct call made to go to
Aspro Dam – immediately from the dam wall a male BLACK EARED WHEATEAR, 2BLACK REDSTART and a BLACK HEADED WAGTAIL. At 15.30
a passage of HIRUNDINES and SWIFTS flew north – 5 ALPINE SWIFT, 30+ SWIFTS, 2 RED RUMPED SWALLOW plus 100+ SWALLOW and HOUSE
MARTIN. Finally following the SWIFTS, 2 LONGLEGGED BUZ\ZARD flew over.

Quick stop at Paphos Sewage Works on the way back to the Hotel, 3 CATTLE
EGRET, BLACK FRANCOLIN, both BUZZARD and LONG LEGGED BUZZARD, whilst overhead more SWIFTS and 4 RED RUMPED SWALLOW
.

Species list 104

Tuesday 22nd March

Spent the day relaxing round the pool – an afternoon 4 mile walk along the coast failed to provide any
additional highlights.

A great few days birding with a good range of species and some nice surprises, a total of 104 species
was very credible.

Not only was the birdwatching good, we enjoyed some very nice evening meals with good wine and
afterwards the entertainment over a few nightcaps and good company.

CYPRUS VISIT
2013

Mon 25th
Feb

Last day with the car - overcast and cool breeze.
First stop Asprokremmos dam - again the area around the car park was good, 3 Woodllark, 2 Serin, 2 Corn Bunting, 50+ Chaffinch, 10 Goldfinch, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Common Buzzard overhead could have been
migrants

At Mandria drove to the small picnic site near the rocks, a 1st W Isabelline Wheatear (92) was picked up on the scrubland. Next stop Lark corner where a recently ploughed field held over 60 larks and
pipits consisting of 15 Short-toed Larks (93) 30 Skylark, 15 Crested Lark, 6 Red-Throated Pipit and some Meadow Pipit. Another Buzzard on a post.
After lunch final visit to Paphos Headland where 3 Greater Sand Plover (2 now in sp) 24 Golden Plover, 6 Swallow, 4 CornBunting, 1 Cormorant and1 Shag. Looks likely that the species list is going to
total (93) considering have'nt been up to Troodos and lack of waders on Lady's Mile /Zakaki Marsh still quiet a reasonable total.

Sunday 24th Feb

Spent the morning round the pool, at 13.30 signs of viz mig Cyprus style - a flock of 35 Cormorant (all with Grey/White streaky heads) heading NE.
Later in the afternoon two more flocks -50+ and 20, a total of 105. We probably have'nt seen more than 10 in 2 weeks!
Along the coast at least 14 Stonechat counted.

Saturday 23rd Feb

Decided to drive up to Latchi - thick cloud and showers on the plateau. Stopped off at the Pykni picnic site - thick scrub and trees. An hour here proved very worthwhile - large movement of finches
at least 75 Greenfinch,30 Greenfinch, 30 Chaffinch, 10 Goldfinch and 4 Robin. Walking through the scrub flushed 3 Sardinian Warbler, 2 Cyprus Warbler, (88)
1 male Blackbird (89) 3 Song Thrush (90) 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff and probably the biggest surprise of the trip - a Woodcock (91) which unfortunately had died a few hours ago flying into a wire mesh
fence.
At Latchi only 5 House Martin were worth noting.
﻿ After a couple of non-birding days -although we did manage to pickup at Asprokremmos Dam, 2 Spannish Sparrow (77) and at Choletra a superb male Pallid Harrier (78) with a Peregrine (79) near Coral
Bay.

Drove this morning to the Akrotiri area and one of my favourite sites - Zakaki Marsh with Lady Mile Beach - what a disappointment the marsh completely over grown, could not find anywhere to see into
it and not one wader on the whole of Lady's Mile. Female Hen Harrier and Marsh Harrier were compensation.

Next stop Akrotiri Salt Lake, this time I managed to locate the Field society building which provides a lot of information and newly refurbished balcony hide complete with a Leica scope with 20 - 60
x eyepiece. This enabled me to spend an hour looking over the large area of water, 300+ Flamingo feeding one corner, scanning the fringes produced 1 Great Crested Grebe (80) singles of Great White
Egret (81) Little Egret (82) 4 Grey Heron, 7Pintail finally 3 Common Crane (83).

Having now visited all the sites on my list now will try and make trips to the local areas to see if any early migrants are arriving - mind you with flocks of Swallow, House Martin in February what
more can I ask for.﻿

Next stop was Oroklini Marsh where I met Roy Mason who has spent 12 years of almost daily visits to this superb site, covers an area of about 3 times the size of South Huish Marsh and also has only a
few good points from which to view. Needless to say we exchanged e.mail and web site addresses.
Although the water levels were high there was a good range of birds on view -
8 Blackwinged Stilt (67) , 6 Spur Winged Plover.
1 Greenshank(68) 50+ Snipe (69) c 50 Shoveler, 15 Pintail (70) 100's of Coot, 15 Moorhen (71) 2 Grey Heron (72) 6 Little Grebe, 1 male Red Crested Pochard (73) , A pair of Marsh Harrier (74) created
there own havoc. An adult Little Gull (75) was over one of the marshes. Overhead a heavy shower produced a mixed flock of 70+ Swallow and House Martin.
When we arrived there were 15 Cattle Egret (76) by the time we left at 16.15 the roost had grown to 70 birds..
Even though it was a 2 hour drive back to Paphos the superb days birding made it really worthwhile.

A celebratory glass of wine (or 2) was thoroughly deserved especially for Anne!!

Mon 18th
Feb
A drive up to Latchi on the north coast -on route there is a picnic site which is after a long climb - here additions to the trip list were Woodlark (42) Blackcap (43) Siskin (44) at least 6
Sardinian Warblers, Stonechats a, Robin and Finches.
Sight of raptors meant finding a suitable spot to stop. - first a male Hen Harrier (45) then a cracking Long Legged Buzzard (46) followed a few minutes later by a Bonnellis Eagle (47).
at the Baths of Aphrodite they have built a bird hide overlooking a valley - plenty of Blackcap, Sardinian Warbler, Cettis Warbler and a Wren (48)
A walk round Latchi found a flock of 40+ Jackdaw (49) 3 Yellow Legged Gull and a big surprise sat on some rocks 3 Audoins Gull (50) a first for Cyprus for me.

On our return drive stopped off at Evretou Dam - up to 6 Chukar a male Black Redstart another Bonnellis Eagle and 2 Common Buzzard (51).
Over the Elysium car park 4 Swallow and 3 House Martin (52)

Sunday 17th Feb 2013

Hire car arrived this morning so we can now visit some of the more interesting sites further afield.
Today was the first complete sunny day - prior to this sunny spells with showers a and some F7 WNW winds .

Drove to Asprokremmos dam -
have never before it so full even the locals had turned out to photo the water cascading down the overflow falls.

No duck/gulls on the water - Sunday is as hunting day.
On one of the paths through the trees as very nice haw finch (30) drinking from a pool also at least 10 chiffchaff moving through, lots of chaffinch (31), 2 chukar (32) disturbed by the
shooting.